The air was heavy with incense and silence. Liora stood in the center of the Moonstone Temple, bathed in the spooky silver light of the blood moon. The stone beneath her bare feet was pulsed, warm and alive, as if the temple itself was watching.
Ren stood across from her, younger, unknowing. His golden eyes looked confused and curious, maybe; but not afraid. He smiled. That cocky grin made her chest flutter.
Then the ritual began.
Liora flinched in her sleep. The pain was not just in her dreams, it lived in her bones.
Three years ago.
She had offered her blood for healing. That was what the Elders said it was for. But the moment her blood touched the ceremonial bowl and mingled with Ren's… something shifted. A power surge. The air crackled. The mark appeared around her neck like a burning chain.
Ren collapsed. He was unconscious for days. When he woke up… he did not remember her… he did not remember anything.
Alpha Thorne made sure of that.
